Akshay Kumar on his dry run at box office: You just keep working hard

Mumbai: Akshay Kumar on Sunday said his 33-year career has been all about working hard and the Bollywood star aims to break his dry spell at the box office by continuing to do exactly that.

Most of his last releases, including 2024's line-up Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sarfira, and Khel Khel Mein, didn't do well at the ticket window. Stree 2 and Singham Again, which featured the actor in a special appearance, were exceptions.

Akshay, who will next be seen playing an Indian Air Force officer in the upcoming film Sky Force, said he has witnessed a slump many times in his career.

"It's not that it has happened for the first time. The best part is you keep on working hard. That is what I tell myself. If anyone talks to me about it, I say the same thing that you have to keep working hard," the actor told reporters at the trailer launch of Sky Force here.

Akshay said many people advise him to do "one film or maximum two films" in a year.

"... But I say if I can work, then why not? I have based my entire career on that. Many people have told me not to do content-based films, but I don't want to leave that. I want to keep working on different kinds of films," he added.

The actor said he is proud of Sarfira, the Hindi adaptation of superhit Tamil film Soorarai Pottru (2020) starring Suriya, even though it didn't work.

"I still say that it ('Sarfira') was one of my best films." According to the makers, Sky Force is the untold story of India's first and deadliest airstrike ever. It will be released in theatres on January 24 during the Republic Day weekend.

Sandeep Kelwani and Abhishek Kapur have co-directed the film, which also marks the acting debut of Veer Pahariya.

The film revolves around IAF officer T Vijaya (Veer) who goes missing in action during the 1965 India-Pakistan War. Akshay plays his fellow IAF officer KO Ahuja who embarks on a mission to find Vijaya.

Akshay said Sky Force needed a new face like Veer.

"This film required him and he got the part. And that's the most important thing. We have to be true to the film. If the film requires somebody new, so why not? I love the screenplay and that's why I took part in it. It's not about what my role is or is my role bigger than him or not. It is not (like) that, (but) the film is good," he said.

Although they began as co-stars, Veer said he now considers Akshay an elder brother.

"Akshay sir was so kind and welcoming that he broke the ice in one second. From then on, we became great friends. He became an elder brother to me. He guided me throughout (the film). We worked on the scenes in different ways. I really had a blast," the newcomer said.

Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, Sky Force also features Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan in pivotal roles.